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mother and I have planned when neither the bride nor the groom looked especially
     happy about their union. What you have is exceedingly rare.”
    “No one is more aware of that than I am. And no one is more grateful.” Camille smiled.
     “I hope the two of you find that one day.” She glanced at Delilah. “If that’s what
     you want of course.”
    “Well, I for one, have a plan,” Delilah said. “I find things have always worked out
     quite nicely when I have a plan.”
    Camille and Teddy exchanged glances as if each knew Delilah well enough to know what
     she was thinking. Absurd of course. While Teddy probably knew Delilah better than
     anyone in the world, Camille scarcely knew her at all. Camille and Beryl were five
     years older than their younger sister, old enough that their lives had never particularly
     included her. Although admittedly all three sisters were making an effort to change
     that. Why, hadn’t Delilah accompanied Camille and Grayson on their brief trip to the
     city of New York for the exact purpose of getting to know her sister better?
    And hadn’t that worked out well? a little voice whispered in the back of her head.
    She pushed the thought aside. She had come to know Camille, and even Beryl, much better
     in the months since Christmas when they had vowed to make an effort to be, well, sisters
     rather than merely blood relations.
    “A plan?” Camille’s brow rose. “What kind of plan?”
    “Oh, Dee always has a plan of some sort.” Teddy cast her friend an affectionate smile.
     “She’s had plans for as long as I’ve known her about one thing or another.”
    “I’ve heard about your plans,” Camille said slowly.
    “From Mother I assume.”
    Camille nodded.
    “Then you have heard the majority of them turn out most successfully.”
    “Well, yes, I have heard that as well.” Camille nodded.
    Teddy wisely held her tongue.
    “Perhaps you have forgotten.” Delilah ticked the points off on her fingers. “I had
     a plan for exactly the kind of man I intended to marry. No less than a viscount, a
     sizable income, and no previous wives or children to muck things up. I married exactly
     as I was expected to.”
    “I thought that was our mother’s plan,” Camille said in an aside to Teddy.
    “Regardless it was an excellent plan,” Delilah said. And exactly the same plan followed
     by her older sisters. “And proved to be exceptionally well thought out.” Although
     admittedly she had not thought Phillip would die at such a young age. He had scarcely
     passed his forty-third year. Dashing, charming, unobtainable Phillip.
    “After Phillip died, I decided upon a plan whereas I would actively begin looking
     for a new husband once he had been deceased for three years.” She paused to collect
     her thoughts. “I must confess though it’s not entirely my idea. Phillip left a letter
     along with his will in which he suggested I mourn no more than six months and remarry
     again after two to three years. That time has now passed.”
    “Wasn’t that thoughtful of him,” Teddy offered with a pleasant enough smile that wasn’t
     the least bit genuine. It was the mark of a true friend that while Delilah might have
     forgiven Phillip, Teddy never would.
    “It was thoughtful,” Delilah said firmly. “But I haven’t had a plan since Phillip’s
     death and now I do.”
    “I see.” Camille considered her sister thoughtfully. “And does your plan include the
     name of your future husband?”
    “Don’t be silly.” Delilah scoffed. “I haven’t selected my next husband. I don’t know
     that I’ve met him yet but it’s possible that I have. I have more, oh, requirements,
     I suppose than an actual individual.” Once again, she counted the points off on her
     fingers. “One, I want a title at least equal to my own.”
    “One would hate for you to have to give up being Viscountess Hargate for simply being
     Lady Whoever,” Teddy said.
    Delilah ignored the sarcasm in her